[Cape York Expedition journal] January 30 to December 3, 1948
Page 10
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Transcription
OUTSIDE 3 MILE LIMIT. HE IS DOSS AND MEN RESPECT THAT KNOWLEDGE. RECOMMENDS THAT WE SEND AIR MAIL FROM SUVA IN FIJI RATHER THAN PAO PAO - NO REGULAR SERVICE FOR LATTER. STEAK (AUST.) DINNER TONIGHT - VERY GOOD. CAFE'S LIVER SLICES FOR BREAKFAST, PINEAPPLE + COTTAGE CHEESE - COLD TONGUE SALAD FOR LUNCH. TEMP. IN DINING ROOM 84° TONIGHT. BIRD WATCHING CUTS DOWN READING TIME. READ "RAPT MAS. STANBERRY BOOK" TODAY. MET SWISS GIRL - MOTHER OF 5 YR. OLD DAUGHTER. IS RETURNING TO AUST. AFTER 1 YR. AT HOME IN ZURICH. HEARD HER TALKING SWISS TO DAUGHTER. HAS LIVED IN AUST. 5 YRS. RETURN IS LIKE GOING INTO EXILE. DOES NOT LIKE COUNTRY OR PEOPLE - LACK OF CULTURE. HUSBAND A EUROPEAN DOCTOR - IN SYDNEY; PARENTS + FAMILY KILLED IN WAR - WILL NOT RETURN. MR. WILMOT SAYS HE CAN UNDERSTAND ATTITUDE OF GIRL BECAUSE FOR THE SOPHISTICATED, AUSTRA. IS AS YET SADLY LACKING IN CULTURAL URGE AND APPRECIATION. HOWEVER, HE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR FUTURE + ENGLAND THRU ITS CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVE FOR CULTURE WILL ATTEMPT TO DO ITS PART. AUSTRA. GROW QUANTITIES OF GRAPES - MAKE SOME EXCELLENT WINES (PARTICULARLY WHITE), ALSO SOME GOOD SHERRY, ALSO GOOD QUEENSLAND RUM. LITTLE EX- PORTED, BUT SELDOM SEE AUSTRALIANS DRINKING WINE. IRISH CATHOLIC + SCOTCH PRESBY. INFLUENCE VERY STRONG IN AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIANS IN GENERAL REFLECT HARD-WORKING, LOWER + MIDDLE CLASS, DEER- DRINKING, LITTLE APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, INDUSTRIAL CITY TYPES WHICH SO COMMON IN ENGLAND. BELIEVES EDUCATION + EXAMPLE WILL WORK WONDERS. TO MORROW - ABOUT 3 P.M. - WE PASS HAWAII; 500 MILES OFF TO SSE. INCREASE IN BIRD LIFE AS REFLECTION OF COMPARATIVE CLOSENESS? CAPT. WARNS ME I'LL HAVE A BUSY DAY WHEN WE PASS CHRISTMAS IS. ONE OF OUR CABIN MATES, REV. WEGM, HAS SPENT SOME TIME IN PALESTINE. MORE LATER ABOUT HIM. TIME BACK 1/2 HR. TONIGHT.